File Naming

File naming is the most basic level of organization and is incredibly important. Your file name travels with your photograph, allows you to find you work, allows your editor to know which images is yours, lets your client tell you which shot they want retouched, and helps prevent you from overwriting and losing your work. In developing a standard, we've looked to the ASMP, a professional organization of working photographers. You can read their general outline and the rationale behind it here:

http://www.dpbestflow.org/file-management/file-naming.

Note: This is the sort of thing that seems really annoying when you're in photo school and in a hurry. But you will thank us later when you're shooting TONS of images and have an easier time managing them because of the good habits you started in your first semester. It's like brushing your teeth.

In this class, you will follow the following naming schema for everything you shoot and import. You have some flexibility - after all, this is your archive, not mine, but the basic conventions need to be followed. We'll review your choices in class, and stick to them as we progress.

When you import your files, you will rename them all as follows:

[Name or Initials]_[Year]_[MonthDay]_[Project/Job Identifier]_[Sequence#]

I use the class number, assignment number, or name of assignment for my [Project Identifier], and my last name (since it isn't super common or long) for the [Name].

For example, I would name my shots for PH152 Assignment 1 taken on September 1, 2016, this way:

Fader_Sean_2016_0901_Assig01_0001.dng

Fader_Sean_2016_0901_Assig01_0002.dng

Fader_Sean_2016_0901_Assig01_0003.dng

[etc.]

If you use your initials, your file name is shorter, which is convenient. But your files might not be immediately identifiable as yours.

As you continue out of the world of school, you can use a Job ID as [Project Identifier], your client name as [Project Identifier], etc.

Paris_2016_0901_Basel2241_0003.dng

Paris_2016_0901_Vogue_Mag_0003.dng

Think hard about this, and then stick with it. Try to avoid exceeding 31 characters in your naming, if you can.

When you output and turn in your files, follow the guidelines on each individual assignment (or client).

For example, the files I turn in for Assignment 1 might be:

Fader_Sean_PH152_Assig01_01.jpg

Fader_Sean_PH152_Assig01_02.jpg

Fader_Sean_PH152_Assig01_03.jpg